Portable boot washing stand

ABSTRACT

A portable boot washing stand for holding boots above the ground in a position to prevent the inside of the boot from getting wet during washing comprises a base and at least two boot holders. The base legs are of a size, shape, and stiffness to easily push into the ground. The boot holders each comprise a foot portion and a leg portion, wherein the foot portion is at an obtuse angle to the leg portion, and wherein the foot portion has a width which is sufficient to prevent the boot from spinning when subjected to a powerful spray of water. Further the leg portions are mounted to the base such that the leg portions are relatively parallel to the base legs.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/679,729 filed May 11, 2005.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is in the field of shoe/boot washing mechanism. More specifically, it relates to a stand for holding boots to be washed.

There are many mechanisms for washing dirty shoes/boots. Most of these mechanisms comprise some sort of brush/water system to scrub the boots. When cleaning your boots in the field, for example after a dirt bike race, these mechanisms are not available, or practical. In the past, in these situations, one would just hold the boot, and spray it with a hose as best they could, trying not to get the inside of the boot, or themselves, wet in the process.

There are boot drying apparatus for drying boots, or holding muddy boots, but these devices are typically mounted permanently on a surface, or laid on the floor (see U.S. Pat. No. Des. 378,252 which looks to be mounted to a wall, or laid on the floor, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,592 by Ferguson which apparatus is mounted to a truck bed.) If the device is laid on the ground, it would move around if subjected to a high pressure spray of water. If the device is mounted somewhere, then that structure must be present in order to use it. Neither of these situations are acceptable for quick use in the field.

A device is desired therefore which is easily portable, and can readily be made stable against a pressurized water spray, which would hold the boots in a position so as not to get the inside wet, while one sprayed the boots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable boot washing stand for holding boots above the ground in a position to prevent the inside of the boot from getting wet during washing comprises a base and at least two boot holders. The base has at least two base legs, wherein the base legs are of a size, shape, and stiffness to easily push into the ground. The boot holders each comprise a foot portion and a leg portion, wherein the foot portion is at an obtuse angle to the leg portion, and wherein the foot portion has a width which is sufficient to prevent the boot from spinning when subjected to a powerful spray of water. Further the leg portions are mounted to the base such that the leg portions are relatively parallel to the base legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable boot washing stand according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portable boot washing stand, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portable boot washing stand according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a portable boot washing stand according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention are presented in FIGS. 1-3 which are not drawn to scale and in which like components are numbered alike. A portable boot washing stand 1 for holding boots 3 above the ground 5 in a position to prevent the inside 4 of the boot 5 from getting wet during washing comprises a base 10 and at least two boot holders 20.

The base 10 has at least two base legs 14. The base legs 14 are of a size, shape, and stiffness to easily push into the ground 5. Unlike some of the prior art boot drying apparatus, which are laid on a surface, and would therefore move around if subjected to a high pressure spray of water, the present invention is pressed into the ground 5 such that it will not move around when subjected to a spray of water. Further, there have been some prior art attempts at mounting boot holding apparatus on a vehicle, such as a truck (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,592 by Ferguson). This is a permanent fixture, and therefore you must have the truck present to use it. The present invention may be brought out into the field, and pushed into the ground for use at any desirable location.

The boot holders 20 each comprise a foot portion 22 and a leg portion 24, wherein the foot portion 22 is at an obtuse angle 26 to the leg portion 24. The foot portion 22 has a width 23 which is sufficient to prevent the boot 3 from spinning when subjected to a powerful spray of water. Further, the leg portions 24 are mounted to the base 10 such that the leg portions 24 are relatively parallel to the base legs 14. According to a preferred embodiment, the boot holder foot portion width 23 is approximately 3 inches. According to a further preferred embodiment, the obtuse angle 26 is in the range of 120° to 150°.

According to an aspect of the invention, the base further comprises a stiffening member 12, this acts to help the overall rigidity and stability of the boot washer. In one embodiment of the invention, the boot holders 20 are mounted to the stiffening member 12.

According to an aspect of the invention, the boot holders 20 are integral to the base stiffening member 12. This might be the case if the entire boot washing stand was stamped, or molded.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there are four base legs 14. In a further embodiment, there are four base legs 14, which are located relative to each other such that each would be the corner of a parallelogram 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the base legs 14 are comprised of a wire carbon steel. In a further preferred embodiment, the base legs 14 are comprised of a 3/16 wire carbon steel.

According to an aspect of the invention, the boot holders 20 are comprised of a steel plate, or an aluminum plate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base stiffening member 12 is comprised of a steel plate.

The base legs 14 may be integral to the boot holders 20. According to a preferred embodiment, the stiffening member 12 has a top side 11 and a bottom side 13. The boot holders 20 are comprised of a wire carbon steel, and the stiffening member 12 is mounted along the leg portion 24 of the boot holders 20, such that the boot holder foot portion 22, and part of the boot holder leg portion 24 extend from the stiffening member top side 11, and a part of the boot holder leg portion 24 extends from the stiffening member bottom side 13. In this embodiment, the portion of the boot holder leg portion 24 which extends from the stiffening member bottom side 13 functions as the base legs 14.

According to an aspect of the invention, the boot holders 20 are mounted to the stiffening member 12 by welding.

In another embodiment of the invention, the portable boot washing stand 1 further comprises an add on base stand 30 having a top 32 and a bottom 34. The base stand top 32 is adapted to receive the base legs 14. The boot holder leg portions 24 are in a plane relatively perpendicular to the ground 5, and the base stand bottom 34 is relatively perpendicular to the boot holder leg portion plane when installed, and is wide enough to prevent the boot washing stand 1 from tipping when the boots are being washed. This allows the boot washing stand 1 to be used on hard surfaces.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the base stand 30 is comprised of two base feet 36, wherein the base feet 36 are relatively perpendicular to the boot holder leg portion 24 plane, wherein each base foot 36 receives a base leg 14 from a different corresponding boot holder leg portion 24. In a further embodiment the base feet 36 are interconnected.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the base stand 30 may be integral to the boot holders 20. 

1. A portable boot washing stand for holding boots above the ground in a position to prevent the inside of the boot from getting wet during washing, comprising: a base having at least two base legs, wherein said base legs are of a size, shape, and stiffness to easily push into the ground; and, two boot holders, each comprising a foot portion and a leg portion, wherein said foot portion is at an obtuse angle to said leg portion, and wherein said foot portion has a width which is sufficient to prevent the boot from spinning when subjected to a powerful spray of water, and further wherein said leg portions are mounted to said base such that said leg portions are relatively parallel to the base legs.
 2. The potable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said base further comprises a stiffening member.
 3. The potable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said base further comprises a stiffening member, and wherein said boot holders are mounted to said stiffening member.
 4. The portable boot washing stand of claim 2 wherein said boot holders are integral to said base stiffening member.
 5. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 having four base legs located relative to each other such that each would be the corner of a parallelogram.
 6. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said base legs are comprised of a wire carbon steel.
 7. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said base legs are comprised of a 3/16 wire carbon steel.
 8. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said boot holders are comprised of metal sheeting.
 9. The portable boot washing stand of claim 2 wherein said base stiffening member is comprised of a steel plate.
 10. The portable boot washing stand wherein said boot holder foot portion has a width of approximately 3 inches.
 11. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle is in the range of 120° to 150°.
 12. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 wherein said base legs are integral to said boot holders.
 13. The portable boot washing stand of claim 2 wherein said boot holders are comprised of a wire carbon steel, wherein said stiffening member has a top side and a bottom side, wherein said stiffening member is mounted to said boot holders such that said boot holder foot portion, and part of said boot holder leg portion extend from said stiffening member top side, and a part of said boot holder leg portion extends from said stiffening member bottom side, such that the portion of said boot holder which extends from said stiffening member bottom side functions as said base legs.
 14. The portable boot washing stand of claim 2 wherein said boot holders are mounted to said stiffening member by welding.
 15. The portable boot washing stand of claim 1 further comprising an add on base stand having a top and a bottom, and wherein said base stand top is adapted to receive said base legs, wherein said boot holder leg portions are in a plane relatively perpendicular to the ground, and wherein said base stand bottom is relatively perpendicular to said boot holder leg portion plane when installed, and is wide enough to prevent the boot washing stand from tipping when the boots are being washed.
 16. The portable boot washing stand of claim 14 wherein said base stand is comprised of two base feet, wherein said base feet are relatively perpendicular to said boot holder leg portion plane, wherein each base foot receives a base leg from a different corresponding boot holder leg portion.
 17. The portable boot washing stand of claim 14 wherein said base feet are interconnected.
 18. A portable boot washing stand for holding boots above the ground in a position to prevent the inside of the boot from getting wet during washing, comprising: two boot holders, each comprising a foot portion and a leg portion, wherein said foot portion is at an obtuse angle to said leg portion, and wherein said foot portion has a width which is sufficient to prevent the boot from spinning when subjected to a powerful spray of water; and a base stand having at least two base feet, wherein said base feet are of a size, shape, and stiffness to prevent said boot holders from tipping while the boots are washed, and further wherein said leg portions are mounted to said base stand such that said leg portions are relatively perpendicular to the ground.
 19. The portable boot washing stand of claim 18 wherein said base stand is removable, and wherein said boot holders further comprise at least two base legs, wherein said base legs are of a size, shape, and stiffness to easily push into the ground. 